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Food Irradiation:
What’s the Scoop?
BLM
Name: ____________________________
Date: _____________ Class: ______________
Page 1 of 2
Topic 2 Backgrounder Assignment – Technology and the Food Irradiation
Process
Use the web sites below to research food irradiation, food safety and food-borne illnesses. Your group will pay
special attention to the technology and the food irradiation process aspects of these three topics. Based on
your research, your group is to work together to create a single-page (maximum of 250 words) “Backgrounder”
which will be used to help your classmates understand this aspect of this issue (see the Individual Writing
Assignment – Op-Ed Piece for more information).
Below are some questions to help guide your research.
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How is food irradiated?
Does irradiation make food radioactive? Why or why not?
What other technological processes are similar to food irradiation?
Does Canada have a good supply of the radioisotope it needs for food irradiation?
Why does ionizing radiation kill insects, bacteria and other microorganisms?
Does food irradiation also kill the cells in the food itself?
Can food irradiation kill food-borne viruses?
Other than preventing food poisoning, what are the other benefits of food irradiation?
Does food irradiation technology guarantee the safety of the public from food-borne illnesses?
Web Links
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Canadian Nuclear Association - Irradiation vs Contamination
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Canadian Food Inspection Agency – Food Irradiation (Retrieved Dec. 4, 2014)
This page has information about food irradiation, labelling, types of foods irradiated in Canada and food safety.
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Canadian Food Inspection Agency – Irradiated Foods (Retrieved Dec. 4, 2014)
This page explains the requirements for food labelling for irradiated foods in Canada.
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Health Canada Food and Nutrition – Food Irradiation (Retrieved Dec. 4, 2014)
This page has information about the foods which are currently irradiated and reviews of proposed new uses of food
irradiation as well as answers to frequently asked questions.
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Health Canada Food and Nutrition – Food-related Illnesses (Retrieved Dec. 4, 2014)
This page has information about a variety of food-related illnesses including infant botulism, listeriosis and salmonellosis.
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Health Canada – Policy on Listeria monocytogenes in Ready-to-Eat Foods (Retrieved Dec. 4, 2014)
This page has information about Listeria and Food Safety for Ready-to-Eat Food.
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Public Health Agency of Canada – Listeriosis (Listeria) Outbreak (Retrieved Dec. 4, 2014)
This page (archived) has links to updates from 2009 and 2010 including a Listeriosis Investigative Review and an
Update to 2008 Listeria monocytogenes numbers.
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Public Health Agency of Canada - Listeria monocytogenes Outbreak – Final Update (April 17, 2009) (Retrieved Dec. 4,
2014)
This update (archived), from the Public Health Agency of Canada, summarizes the confirmed cases, including deaths,
from the listeriosis outbreak during the summer of 2008.
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Canadian Nuclear Association - Food Irradiation
Canadian Food Inspection Agency – Causes of Food Poisoning (Retrieved Dec. 4, 2014)
This page has links to information about common causes of food poisoning, including Listeria.
Public Health Agency of Canada - Lessons Learned: Public Health Agency of Canada's Response to the 2008
Listeriosis Outbreak (April 17, 2008) (Retrieved Dec. 4, 2014)
This page (archived) discusses the Canadian Government Response to the listeriosis outbreak of 2008.
©2014 Canadian Nuclear Association/Let’s Talk Science
http://teachnuclear.ca/
Food Irradiation:
What’s the Scoop?
BLM
Page 2 of 2
Topic 2 Backgrounder Assignment – Technology and the Food Irradiation
Process – Suggested Responses
Below are suggested answers for the guiding questions.
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How is food irradiated?
Food is irradiated similar to the way luggage is x-rayed at airports. The food is passed
through a thick-walled chamber containing a source of ionizing radiation that passes
through the food, destroying insects, bacteria and microorganisms.
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Does irradiation make food radioactive? Why or why not? (See the section on Cobalt-60 Therapy
units below.)
No, irradiated foods do not become radioactive. When something has been irradiated, by
x-rays, gamma rays or electron beams, the irradiation stops as soon as the source of
ionizing radiation has been removed or terminated. Food would only become radioactive if
contaminated. When radioactive contamination has occurred, the source of the ionizing
radiation itself is transferred.
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What other technological processes are similar to food irradiation?
Food irradiation uses the same radioisotope (Cobalt-60) and a similar process to Cobalt-60
Therapy Units.
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Does Canada have a good supply of the radioisotope it needs for food irradiation?
Cobalt-60, the radioisotope most commonly used in food irradiation, is produced in CANDU
reactors in Ontario and New Brunswick.
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Why does ionizing radiation kill insects, bacteria and other microorganisms?
With sufficient ionizing radiation, cells are killed. The death of one cell is of no concern,
but if too many cells die at once the organism will die.
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Does food irradiation also kill the cells in the food itself?
Yes, all living cells in the food are killed. This causes changes in the food similar to
cooking and some irradiated foods may taste slightly different because of this.
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Can food irradiation kill food-borne viruses?
Viruses are not, for the most part, destroyed by the radiation levels that are suitable for use
in foods.
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Other than preventing food poisoning, what are the other benefits of food irradiation?
Food irradiation can prevent spoilage by destroying bacteria, molds and yeast which cause
food to spoil and by controlling insect and parasite infestation. It can also increase shelf
life by slowing ripening or sprouting in fresh fruits and vegetables, such as potatoes and
onions.
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Does food irradiation technology guarantee the safety of the public from food-borne illnesses?
No. Nothing can guarantee food safety, but food irradiation greatly reduces bacteria and
other microorganisms that may be present in food. Irradiated food must still be handled,
stored, and cooked properly like all other foods. The rules of safe food handling - proper
sanitation, packaging, storage and preparation - still need be followed.
©2014 Canadian Nuclear Association/Let’s Talk Science
http://teachnuclear.ca/